Telecomunications terminal module and combination including a terminal module

ABSTRACT

A telecommunications terminal module ( 10 ) includes the following features. The terminal module ( 10 ) includes at least one location ( 36 ) for mounting a section ( 32,34, 64 ) of a telecommunications rack ( 12 ), the mounting location ( 36 ) is provided with surfaces ( 38,40,42 ) facing said section ( 32, 34, 64 ), and the surfaces ( 38, 40, 42 ) of said mounting location ( 36 ) are configured such that said terminal module ( 10 ) can be tilted from the condition as secured to said rack ( 12 ) relative to said section ( 32, 34, 64 ) about one rim ( 70 ) thereof.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a telecommunications terminal module as well asto a combination of a terminal module including cables andcross-coupling wires terminated thereby.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the telecommunications field there is a need in the course ofcommunicating signals between a subscriber and an office (exchange) ofthe telecommunications company to interconnect various cable cores atnumerous distribution points. More particularly, it is often necessaryin distribution points to interconnect incoming and outgoing cable coresvia numerous cross-coupling wires. For this purpose, terminal modulesare usually employed featuring at least two rows of terminal contactsfor front access and are thus configured mainly as blocks. Theseterminal blocks are mounted in racks provided in a distribution point.

Racks are formed particularly cost-effective by so-called traysfabricated of thin sheet-metal and usually having two side wallsoriented substantially in parallel. The terminal modules are providedwith mounting locations, for example in the form of rear side slot-typeopenings, in which the thin side walls of the tray-type racks or tabsconfigured protruding therefrom can be mounted. By means of latchingdevices the terminal modules can be secured to the racks featuringopenings or ledges for engaging the latching elements. In certainsituations it is necessary to remove the rack-mounted terminal modulesat least temporarily or at least to swivel them out of their mountedposition. This may be necessary, for example, when making changes to theterminal modules or to the overvoltage or overcurrent protectioncomponents incorporated therein.

German patent DE 37 28 368 A1 relates to a block-type terminal moduleincluding latching fastener means, by means of which the terminal modulecan be latch-mounted on two parallel rods of substantially circularcross-section. When the fastener on the one side is released, theterminal module can be swiveled about the round bar to the other sidewhilst remaining secured thereto. This is a special mounting systemwhich is incompatible with other systems, for example with theaforementioned trays or two parallel sheet-metal components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a terminal module for mounting in a rackmounting system including thin-walled sections permitting by simple wayschanges or replacements to be made to the components employed in theterminal module.

The invention thus provides a telecommunications terminal moduleincluding at least one location for mounting a section of atelecommunications rack. In other words, the terminal module israck-mountable. The mounting location of the terminal module is providedwith surfaces facing the section of the rack. Furthermore, the surfacesof the mounting location are configured such that the terminal modulecan be tilted from the condition as secured to the rack relative to thesection of the rack about one rim thereof. Preferably at least onefastener is provided by which the terminal module is secured to the rackreleasably. The fastener is preferably configured as a protrudinglatching hook or protuberance for pliantly engaging an opening in thethin-walled section of the rack at an edge or protuberance configuredthereon.

The surfaces of the mounting location substantially involve, asappreciated cross-sectionally, at least one slot of suitable depthconfigured in the rear side of the terminal module. The mountinglocation in general, more particularly the slot, may include for examplea widening within which the rim portion of the rack section is locatedin the mounted condition of the terminal module. As a result of this,the terminal module is defined in directions perpendicular to thesurface of the section. In other words, the terminal module isnon-shiftingly positioned laterally by defined means on a rack fromwhich the sections in consideration extend vertically. Making thesurface in the direction of the extent of the section and the fasteningso that the terminal module cannot be removed from the rack to the frontis achieved preferably by the fastener as described.

The surfaces of the mounting location in which the section of the rackis mounted are configured such that they depart from the contour of themounted section of the rack and the terminal module can be tilted fromthe condition as secured to the rack relative to the section of the rackabout a rim thereof. This represents a novel feature as compared toknown terminal modules in that this possibility of tilting the terminalmodule relative to the section of the rack was hitherto not availablewith such terminal modules. Instead, as cited above, other rack mountingsystems merely involving round rods were known, for example, forpermitting such a movement of a terminal module. In addition, forexample, from German patent DE 199 48 400 A1 a relatively complicatedadapter is known via which a terminal module can be secured tiltably toa rack and including thin-walled sections. The gist of the invention isthus to permit tilting without the mounting location of the terminalmodule matching in contour with those of the sections of the rack. Dueto this agreement in accordance with prior art a genuine spindle isformed for the terminal module by the rack including, for example, roundrods and the mounting locations on the terminal module being configuredcomplementary thereto, in making rotation of the terminal modulepossible whilst the terminal module remains secured at least one-sidedlyto the round rod. As compared to this, the invention now provides forthe first time a terminal module having mounting locations of optionalconfiguration which still permit, for example, also tilting about therim of a thin-walled section. Such a rotation about a thin-walledsection was hitherto not proposed. Thus the gist of the invention can besummarized in that no positive fixed connection permitting rotation isprovided. Furthermore, the novel terminal module now permits securing orlatching the terminal module to a section of a rack irrespective of atiltable mount.

More particularly, the novel terminal module permits tilting withoutcomplicated additional means. The mounting location of the terminalmodule is configured as regards its surfaces such that the rim portionof a section of the rack can be mounted therein whilst simultaneouslypermitting a tilting motion about the rim of the section. This isachievable, for example, by an at least one-sided (as viewedcross-sectionally) mostly funnel-shaped configuration of the surfaces.The laterally defined “bottom” of the mounting location is seated on therim of the section of the rack in defining the location of the terminalmodule thereby in a direction perpendicular to the surface of thethin-walled section. From the bottom the surfaces of the mountinglocation extend away from the surface of the section such that thedescribed tilting motion about the rim of the section is made possible.

This now makes it possible by simple ways and means to tilt the terminalmodule relative to the rack in thus swiveling the terminal module out ofplace from a dense train and stack of terminal modules. The novelfeature in this is that no separate means are now needed therefor.Instead, the cable cores or cross-coupling wires terminated by theterminal module can now advantageously be used as a “spindle”. Indetail, the terminal module can now be swiveled by the cited ways fromthe rack and remain sufficiently secured by means of the cable coresand/or cross-coupling wires for the short time in which changes are madeto the terminal module or for removing protective components or otherelectronic modules. Once the necessary tasks have been done, theterminal module is swiveled back into place about the “virtual” spindleformed by the cores or wires and can be resecured by the full mountingof the section of the rack in the mounting location and latching actionof the fastener. In this arrangement, this “virtual” spindle must notnecessarily be fixedly located in space. Instead, it may move during theswiveling action in the mounting location. The reason for this is thatthe terminal module is tied to a certain extent by the terminated coresor wires. This means that as regards a swiveling action thereabout theirchange in location dictates the location of the spindle axis or at leastinfluences it. Thus, “tiltable” in this case is to be understood thatthis does not necessarily involve a tilting motion about an axisprecisely defined at all points in time. Instead, tilting in this casemeans that the terminal module is rotated out of its mounted position.without a precisely definable axis existing at all times therefore. Itis furthermore to be noted that the novel terminal module now makes itpossible to swivel a single module or a single terminal block as well asswiveling or tilting a train of modules or blocks out of place.

As mentioned, the terminal module includes at least one fastener bywhich the terminal module can be releasably secured to the rack,resulting in mounting the terminal module becoming particularlyreliable.

The mounting location of the terminal module can be configured so thatit is adapted for mounting a thin-walled section of a telecommunicationsrack. This thin-walled section may be formed, for example, by a strip ofsheet-metal or a profile rail. Whilst such a thin-walled section washitherto used for securing terminal modules such that tilting relativeto the rack was impossible, the invention now makes tilting or rotationpossible relative to the rack due to the configuration of the mountinglocation in each case without the contour of the section of the rackreceived by the mounting location needing to be specially adaptedthereto.

Configuring the terminal module tiltable relative to a rack isachievable more particularly by the mounting location featuring awidening.

As aforementioned, the surfaces of the mounting location can beconfigured funnel-shaped at at least one side. It needs to be noted inthis case that block-type terminal modules are usually secured at twosides to thin-walled sections of a rack in thus permitting a tiltingmotion to one side only usually from the secured position in thismounting arrangement. In accordance therewith, the surfaces of themounting location are to be configured trough-shaped at thecorresponding side so that the intended tilting motion is permittedthere, although of course, it is also possible to additionally configurethe opposite surface of the mounting location funnel-shaped or widenedto facilitate mounting the terminal module on the thin-walled section.

The fastener may include at least one first actuator which may beprovided in the vicinity of the termination location of the terminalmodule with frontwise accessibility. Since the first actuator thus hasfacilitate frontwise accessibility, it is simple to actuate in releasingthe terminal module at at least one side. Subsequently, it can be tiltedrelative to the rack and swiveled out of the row of terminal modulesarranged above and below.

Particular advantages materialize when at least a second actuator isprovided in the vicinity of the fastener. This second actuator may beconfigured such that a tilting motion of the terminal module causes thesection of the rack to engage and actuate it that it is automaticallyreleased. This means that for swiveling a terminal module out of placeor fully releasing it relative to the rack, the fastener merely needs tobe released one-sidedly. At this release side the terminal module can besubsequently lifted and tilted about the opposite side. At leasttemporarily the terminal module remains engaged at this at this side,however, by means of the fastener. It is not until later in the tiltingmotion that the cooperation between the so-called second actuator andthe section against which the second actuator abuts in the course of thetilting motion is utilized to release the fastener likewise at thisside. Subsequently the terminal module can be released in all from therack This thus considerably facilitates swiveling the terminal moduleout of place and releasing it from the rack in rendering the terminalmodule accessible as a whole. More particularly, no actuation of twoactuators in strict sequence to two different sides is needed. Instead,as cited above, actuating the fastener on the one side is handled by thesection of the rack in the course of the tilting motion.

The terminal module may feature a ground contact including a contactportion for configuring contact with the rack. As aforementioned, theterminal module is preferably provided with overvoltage protectioncomponents or other electronic components. As an alternative or inaddition thereto individual contacts of the terminal module may be usedfor terminating so-called shielding wires as needled in the case ofcable cores for high signal transfer rates. Both these contacts and theovervoltage protection components need to be grounded. This was donehitherto by ground contacts on the terminal modules or overvoltageprotection components provided forked with comparatively deep slots formounting the rim of the thin-walled section of the rack. In the novelterminal module such a ground contact can be configured so that it istiltable relative to, the section of the rack in thus combining thepossibility’ of the tilting motion to advantage with forming a groundconnection.

In this arrangement, the ground contact may be configured such that itspringingly contacts the surface of the rack section in thus ensuring inboth the secured condition of the module and in the course of thetilting motion that a reliably good electrical connection to ground isconfigured.

As mentioned, by the terminal module being tiltable relative to therack, special advantages are now available when it includes overvoltageand/or overcurrent protection components needing to be replaced incertain situations. By it now being possible to tilt and swivel it outof place, access to sections is assured at which the correspondingcomponents are employed. The cited components can be employed in arearside portion.

In conclusion, the terminal module can be combined with cable cores, onthe one hand, and cross-coupling wires, on the other, which areterminated at contacts of the terminal module and routed to differentsides of the same. Particular advantages materialize when the terminalmodule can be tilted about the side to which the cross-coupling wiresare routed. For the cross-coupling wires in this case no overlength orlength in reserve needs to be provided. When swiveling the terminalmodule out of place relative to the rack the cross-coupling wiresbrought together at one side form so-to-speak a “virtual” spindle forthe terminal module. Since as a result of this, the terminal moduleneeds to be moved relative to the cross-coupling wires terminatedthereby only by a very slight extent, having to provide thecross-coupling wires overlong can now be practically eliminated. In thisarrangement it is, of course, just as conceivable to provide otherconstellations than arranging for the terminal module to be tiltable tothe side with the cross-coupling wires. It is particularly in crampedspace situations and with no need for the flexibility achieved by thecross-coupling wires that relatively thick cable bundles can be routedto the terminal module concerned. In this case too, it is, of course,just as possible to provide tilting about the imaginary axis running inthe vicinity of or in such a cable bundle routed to the side of theterminal module.

The invention is furthermore characterized by the combination of aterminal module in one of the embodiments as described above with atelecommunications rack. The rack may include at least one thin-walledsection, making a particularly simple configuration possible. This thinwalled section may be formed, for example, by a profile rail or strip ofsheet-metal. A rack may feature two profile rails oriented parallel toeach other, two strips of sheet-metal arranged in parallel or a U-shapedtray, the opposite walls of which each form a thin-walled section of therack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments of the invention will now be detailed with referenceto the drawings in which

FIG. 1 is a view from underneath of a rack-mounted terminal module;

FIG. 2 is a view from underneath of the terminal module as shown in FIG.1 illustrated tilted;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a rack-mounted terminalmodule;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the terminal module as shown in FIG. 3illustrated tilted;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a terminal module mountedin rack and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the terminal module as shown in FIG. 5illustrated tilted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1 there is illustrated a view from underneath ofthe underside of the terminal module 10 mounted in a telecommunicationsrack 12. It is to be noted that in the example embodiment as shown inFIG. 1 the underside is the side at which overcurrent protectioncomponents or overvoltage protection components are insertable insuitable chambers 14 and 16 respectively. It is understood, however,that the chambers 14 and 16 may just as well be configured on the upperside resulting in the cited components being inserted at the top. In theoperative condition in which the terminal module 10 is mounted in therack 12 and in a telecommunications distribution point, the underside asevident from FIG. 1 is usually oriented horizontal. Provided at anaccessible front side 18 in the example embodiment as shown are two rowsof contacts in parallel including for example IDC locations, i.e. urgingthe cables cores into the spaces between the webs 20 as indicated, inwhich the IDC contacts are arranged, the latter bite through theinsulation of the cables cores in making contact with the conductor. Thecable cores are routed from the terminating location at the front side18 to the left-hand side 22 or right-hand side 24 of the terminalmodule. In addition it is especially the incoming leads (unlike thecross-coupling wires) that are routed from the rear side 26 of themodule through a suitable lug 28 and via the underside (not shown) tothe individual contacts. It is to be noted that the cross-coupling wiresin the example as shown are routed to the right-hand side 24. In thiscase it is to be noted that cable cores do not need to be routednecessarily from both sides to the terminal module as shown. Instead,the backbone cable cores, for example, may be integrated in a so-calledcable plug which can be plugged into the terminal module as a singleunit, for example, at the rear. This likewise still permits tilting ofthe terminal module in such an embodiment about cables cores routedsideways to the terminal module, where necessary, without a definedspindle.

As detailed in the following, the terminal module 10 is mounted in atelecommunications rack 12. As evident from the cross-section shown thelatter has a substantially tray-shaped configuration including a bottom30 as well as left-hand side wall 32 and a right-hand side wall 34. Asan alternative, the rack could be configured by two substantiallyparallel oriented strips of sheet-metal mounted by a supportingstructure such that their position and orientation correspond to that ofthe side walls 32, 34. It is furthermore to be noted that in the abovedescription as regards the sides of the terminal module the rack 12extends vertically in being typically oriented thereto. It is, however,just as conceivable that the rack extends with the side walls 32 and 34horizontal so that the side surface areas 22 and 24 would be arrangedtop and bottom respectively and the surface area termed rear side asevident from the plan view in FIG. 1 forms a seating surface area. Thisconceivable different orientation has, however, no influence on the wayin which the terminal module is secured to the rack and to thepossibility of tilting relative to the rack 12 as explained in thefollowing.

As evident from the example embodiment as shown in FIG. 1 the protectivecomponents mounted in the chambers 14 and chambers 16 are difficult toaccess in the secured condition of the terminal module 10 since furthersuch modules are mounted above and below the module shown. In theterminal module as shown, however, access is however now assured by itpermitting tilting relative to the rack 12 more particularly about therim 70 of one of the side walls 32, 34 in thus enabling it to beswiveled out of place from several terminal modules located one abovethe other.

This is achieved by the mounting location 36 mounting the side wall 32or 34 respectively or as termed generally the thin-walled section of therack 12 being configured such that a tilting motion is possible. Forthis purpose, the mounting location includes surfaces facing the sidewall 32 or 34 respectively. The rim 70 of the side wall 32 or 34respectively in this arrangement is seated on a narrow strip-shapedlocation forming the highest portion of the mounting location 36 andtermed bottom 38 in the following. It is from here that at the innerside a relatively short side surface 40 facing the inner side of theside wall 32 or 34 respectively extends. At the opposite side thecorresponding outer side surface 42 is configured somewhat longer in theembodiment as shown and oriented slanting to the side wall 32 or 34respectively. In other words, the more the outer side surface 42 becomesdistanced from the bottom 38 the greater is the spacing to the surfaceof the side wall 32 or 34 respectively, although it is just asconceivable that this side surface 42 could be termed as half-sidedfunnel-shaped. It is understood that the side surfaces 40 and 42 neednot necessarily be configured straight. Instead, they could be curved inany way as long as the tilting motion relative to the side wall 32 or 34respectively as detailed below is not obstructed.

As regards the terminal module 10 it is furthermore to be noted that inthe embodiment as shown in two different levels it includes wire routingmeans 44 on both sides serving the aforementioned routing of severalcores to the sides 22 and 24 respectively of the terminal module 10. Inaddition, the terminal module 10 is provided with a ground rail 46contacting, for one thing, the ground contacts of the overvoltageprotection components mounted in the chambers 16. Should an overvoltageoccur, the energy needs to be grounded via the ground rail 46. This isdone in the embodiment as shown by two contact sections 48 with whichthe ground rail 46 contacts the corresponding inner surface area of theside wall 32 or 34 respectively. It is to be noted that accordingly theground rail 46 is configured as regards the side walls 32 and 34 suchthat the tilting motion of the terminal module 10 as described in thefollowing is made possible.

In conclusion, the terminal module 10 is prevented from being withdrawnfrom the rack 12 as well as locked in place against any movement in thedirection of the run of the side walls 32 or 34 by fasteners 50 providedon both sides in the embodiment as shown. For this purpose, the sidewalls 32, 34 in the embodiment as shown feature openings or “windows”separate from each other. It is these windows that the fasteners 50engage on both sides to subsequently prevent the terminal module 10 frombeing withdrawn from the front side 18 of the rack 12. In addition, thefasteners 50 are advantageously provided with a width (extendingperpendicular to the plane of the drawing as shown in FIG. 1) which atthe most is somewhat less than the width of the corresponding window inthus: enabling the corresponding fasteners 50 to be shifted only to aminor degree in the direction of the extent of the width (i.e. in thedirection of the run of the side walls 32, 34). This results in theterminal module 10 being reliably located also in this directionrelative to the rack 12. As an alternative, the rack may also includeone or more profile rails which may be provided with a full length edgefor latch-mounting the terminal modules in thus permitting the terminalmodules to be shifted along the profile rails. Each fastener 50 isconfigured on a tab 52 which is usually configured via a suitablespindle integrally with the plastics housing of the terminal module 10that the tab 52 is rotatable as a whole about an axis extendingperpendicular to the plane of the drawing in enabling the fastener 50 tobecome disengaged. This is achievable, for example, by a pressureoriented inwards being exerted on the so-called first actuator 54 in theregion of the front side 18 of the terminal module. Since the spindle ofthe tab 52 is located between the actuator 54 and the fastener 50, thefastener 50 is moved outwards when the actuator 54 is moved inwards,resulting in the terminal module 10 being released at one or both sidesfrom the rack 12.

As regards the actions concerned with mounting the terminal module 10 inthe rack 12 in achieving the position as shown in FIG. 1, it is to benoted that tab 52 is substantially pretensioned in the position as shownin FIG. 1. In a movement of the terminal module 10 in the direction ofthe bottom 30 of the rack 12 the bevel 56 firstly negotiates the rearend of the tab 52 at the rim 70 of each side wall 32 or 34 respectivelyand the tab is moved as a whole slightly outwards in this location. Thismovement is continued when the inside bevel 58 provided in the vicinityof the fastener 50 attains the rim 70 of the corresponding side wall. Infurther movement of the terminal module 10 in the direction as describedthe fasteners 50 finally attain the window in the side wall 32, 34 and“latch in place” therein so that the tab 52 assumes the position asshown in FIG. 1. The action of the hook-shaped or protruding fastener 50engaging the rim of the window prevents the terminal module 10 frombeing withdrawn. In certain situations, for example when the componentsmounted in the chambers 14 and 16 need replacing, releasing the terminalmodule 10 from the rack 12 is necessary. In the case of the terminalmodule as shown, a release to one side is sufficient since the terminalmodule can be tilted about the other side and swiveled out of placecompletely from the combination of several terminal modules arranged oneabove the other.

Referring now to FIG. 2 there is illustrated how the terminal module 10is tilted relative to the rack 12. The fastener 50 on the left-hand sideis temporarily disengaged to release the terminal module 10 on this sideof the lefthand side wall 32. Due to the spacing (evident in FIG. 1)between the outer surface area of the right-hand side wall 34 and theopening outer surface 42 of the mounting location 36 for the terminalmodule 10, the terminal module 10 can be tilted relative to the rack 12as shown in FIG. 2, it continuing to be sealed on the rim 70 of theright-hand side wall 34 by the botttom 38 of the mounting location 36.This seating surface area forms the “virtual” spindle for the motionbetween the position as shown in FIG. 1 and that as shown in FIG. 2.This is assisted by the cross-coupling wires (not shown) routed from thecontacts at the front side 18 of the terminal module 10 to theright-hand side and extending from the 16 terminal module 10 bundledperpendicular to the plane of the drawing. This permits the swivelaction without the terminal module 10 being fully released or able tofall out of place. It is again to be noted that due to the terminalmodule being linked by the terminated cable cores, more particularly tothe cross-coupling wires, the “virtual” spindle is free to move duringthe swivel or tilting action.

In the embodiment as shown an additional release at the right-hand sideis made possible by the special configuration of the rear end of the tab52. This may be necessary for extracting the terminal module 10 furtherfrom the combination of several terminal modules arranged one above theother in the direction of the front side 18 and in accessing also thecomponents located relatively far to the rear, mounted in the chambers16, to permit replacing them, for example. As evident from the rearportion of the tab 52 the section of a so-called second actuator 60facing the side wall 34 contacts the outer surface area of the side wall34 such that the tab 52 can be turned about its spindle so that thefastener 50 becomes disengaged. In other words, the tab 52 is elongatedin a portion behind the fastener 50 in forming the second actuator 60such that this actuator comes up against the side wall 34 in the tiltingmotion.

As a result of this, the tab 52 is involved only to a certain extent inthe tilting motion of the terminal module 10 and is rotatedcounter-clockwise relative to the terminal module 10 as evident fromcomparing FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. Accordingly, the fastener 50 on theright-hand side in addition to the one on the left-hand side becomesdisengaged and the terminal module 10 can be released as a whole fromthe rack 12. This thus makes it possible, in addition to the advantageof being able to tilt the terminal module 10 relative to the rack 12, ofreleasing the terminal module 10 from the rack 12 by 17 particularlysimple ways. Compared with conventional solutions in this respect it isnow no longer needed to simultaneously actuate actuators on both sidesto disengage the fasteners on both sides. Instead, this now needs to bedone for one side only, and in the course of the tilting motion thefastener on the other side is automatically disengaged in the embodimentas shown.

In all, the terminal module 10 is extremely functional since theprotective components mounted in the chambers 14 and 16 are themselvesintegrated in the module in thus enabling, as evident from FIG. 2, thefront portion of the terminal module 10 to represent a separateterminating location connected to the rear portion via suitable contacts62. By integrating the protective components in the terminal moduleitself, the contacts remain accessible at the front side with noproblem. Due to the advantage of being able to swivel a terminal module10 out of place, the protective components integrated in a rear portionof the terminal module are likewise accessible. This possibility ofswiveling the terminal module out of place is achieved, asaforementioned, by simple ways without any fixed spindles, adapters orsimilar complicated measures.

Referring now to FIG. 3 there is illustrated a second embodiment of thenovel terminal module substantially corresponding to that as shown inFIG. 1. This applies as regards the corresponding mounting location 36and the fastener 50 substantially being the same as in the embodiment asshown in FIG. 1. It is, however, to be noted that the mounting locations36 of the terminal module 10 in this case are adapted to mount a sectionof a rack formed by two profile rails 64 in parallel. The profile rails64 may be fabricated, for example, by extrusion from a suitable materialsuch as aluminum, for instance. The two profile rails 64 are joined andsecured by a clip 65 such that, in all, a U-shaped configurationmaterializes corresponding to the shape of the rack 12 as shown in FIGS.1 and 2. In a front portion each profile rail 64 features at its outerside a substantially strip-shaped recess running in the direction of theprofile rail (i.e. in the direction perpendicular to the plane of thedrawing). This clip 66 forms at its end nearer to the free rim 70 of theprofile rail 64 a protuberance for engaging the fastener 40. Since therecess 66 in this case is configured over the full length of the profilerail a terminal module 10 can be shifted along the two profile rails 64in the mounted condition.

It is understood that the profile rail may also be configured otherwise,of course. For example, the protuberance for engaging the fastener 50may be provided not as part of a recess in the profile rail but insteadthe profile rail could be offset as a whole to its lower portion suchthat it protrudes at the necessary location for engaging the fastener50.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is illustrated how in this exampleembodiment too, the terminal module 10 can be tilted to one side of theprofile rail 64. The open location 36 is, as aforementioned, configuredsubstantially the same as in the embodiment as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,in being in general funnel-shaped. As a result of this, for exampleafter the fastener 50 on the left-hand side as shown in FIG. 4 has beenreleased, the terminal module 10 can be rotated about the free rim 70 ofthe profile rail 64 on the right-hand side. In this arrangement theactuator 60 is adapted to the continuation of the profile rails 64 suchthat during this rotational motion the fastener 50 also becomesdisengaged at the side about which rotation was made, in thus enablingthe module to be released as a whole from the rack as described above.For the sake of completeness it is to be noted that the embodiment asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a terminal block having no over current orover voltage protection components or other electronic components. It isunderstood, however, that this could be the case and that moreparticularly also the terminal module as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 could bemounted on the rack as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Conversely, theembodiment of the module as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 could also becombined with the rack as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 there is illustrated how a furtherembodiment of a terminal module 10 can be combined with both the rackmounting system as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (see FIG. 5) as well as withthe rack mounting system as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 (see FIG. 6). Thespecial feature in the terminal module 10 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 isthat it is a specially configured terminal block on the exchange(office) side. These terminal blocks on this side of a distributionpoint are usually mounted in horizontal racks in a distribution point.The cable cores brought out from the terminal modules on this side lead,for example, to the so-called exchange or switch of a telecommunicationscompany. However, in this case too, it is to be noted that the block asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6 could also be put to use in other ways, itfurthermore being noted that the block as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 mustnot necessarily be used, of course, at the exchange (office) side.

The terminal module 10 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may in addition betermed “reversible” since in this case cable cores can be terminated atboth the front side 18 and rear side 68. It is usually the case that thecables cores at the rear side 68 lead to the office systems. Toadvantage these can be bunched into a cable connector at the exchangeside which can be plugged as a whole into the rear side 68 of theterminal module 10. As evident from FIG. 5 such a terminal module mayalso be configured in accordance with the invention so that tiltingrelative to the rack 12 is possible without a “real” spindle existingfor this purpose or without further complicated measures beingnecessary. For this purpose, the mounting locations 36 of the terminalmodule 10 are configured substantially the same as described in theprevious embodiments. The non-tilted condition of the embodiment asshown in FIG. 5 substantially corresponds to the embodiment as shown inFIG. 1

Referring now to FIG. 6 there is illustrated how this embodiment of aterminal module can also be combined with a rack having two profilerails 64 running parallel to each other, this correspondingsubstantially to those as shown in FIG. 4.

1. A telecommunications terminal module including: (a) a terminal moduleincluding at least one location for mounting a section of atelecommunications rack, (b) the mounting location including surfacesfacing said section, and (c) the surfaces of said mounting locationbeing shaped so that said terminal module can be tilted from thecondition as secured to said rack relative to said section about one rimthereof.
 2. The terminal module as set forth in claim 1, characterizedin that it further includes at least one fastener by which said terminalmodule is secured to said rack releasably.
 3. The terminal module as setforth in claim 2, characterized in that said mounting location isadapted to mount a thin-walled section of a rack.
 4. The terminal moduleas set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said mounting locationhas a widening.
 5. The terminal module as set forth in claim 1,characterized in that said surfaces of said mounting location areconfigured funnel-shaped on at least one side.
 6. The terminal module asset forth in claim 1, characterized in that said fastener includes atleast one first actuator in the vicinity of a terminating location ofsaid terminal module.
 7. The terminal module as set forth in claim 1,characterized in that provided in the vicinity of said fastener is atleast one second actuator actuated on tilting motion by said section ofsaid rack such that said fastener becomes disengaged.
 8. The terminalmodule as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that it includes aground contact provided with a contact portion for configuring a contactwith said rack which is tiltable relative to said section of said rack.9. The terminal module as set forth in claim 8, characterized in thatsaid contact portion springingly contacts said thin-walled section. 10.The terminal module as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that itincludes at least one of the following: overvoltage protectioncomponents; overcurrent protection components; electronic components;and particularly splitter modules.
 11. A combination of a terminalmodule as set forth claim 1 and cable cores terminated thereby, on theone hand, and cross-coupling wires, on the other, routed to differentsides of said terminal module, said terminal module being tiltable aboutthe side to which said cross-coupling wires are routed.
 12. Acombination of a terminal module as set forth in claim 1 with atelecommunications rack.
 13. The combination as set forth in claim 12,characterized in that said rack includes at least one thin-walledsection.
 14. The combination as set forth in claim 13, characterized inthat said thin-walled section is formed by a strip of sheet-metal, aprofile rail or walls of a U-shaped tray.